Rooftecture S / Shuhei Endo

Dec 2008

By Nico Saieh — Filed under: Houses , Selected , Japan, Shuhei Endo, Steel, Stone

Architects: Shuhei Endo
Location: Shioya Tarumi-ku Kobe, Hyogo-Pref., Japan
Consultants: Masashi Ooji, Design-Structure Laboratory
Project year: 2005
Principal use: House
Site Area: 130 sqm
Constructed Area: 65.7 sqm
Photographs: Shuhei Endo

A small residence for a couple, clinging onto a steep inclination that faces Setonaikai(Inland Sea) and bordered by a Y-intersection at the base of a hill, in a relatively old residential zone developed in tiered platforms. Site has an elongated triangular form, 20m long east-west and 1.5m to 4.0m deep. A retaining wall of wedge shaped stones standing in the back, facing north. Height is difference between the ground and the northern approach range from 5m to 8m.

The main subject theme of this house has been about the archaic problem involving slopes and architecture. Maximizing the existing qualities that are the stone retaining wall in the back and the improved ground – that is, an extension of environmental attributes by means of reciprocal occupation between the slope and the architecture that is born when artificial elements are newly added. Such architectural additions consist of an artificial ground supported by a set of 5 piles and the roof and walls that enclose the space.

On the second floor, the roof and the floor which is the artificial ground continue to the northern terrace visually capture the stone retaining wall as an inner wall and the landscape framed inside the retaining wall and the wall on the western side.

The development of roof/wall is a rectangular sheet of metal shingle board. It maintains the logical extensity pertaining to the slope and the triangular land by folding and tilting. States of liberation and closure created though the interaction with the slope define this house’s spatial quality.

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: section 02

22 comments »

Contemporary Art says:

This is really exciting because it’s necessarily tied to its site. I think the projects that feel like they matter the most are the ones that are specific to their place, where the invention comes out of something specific to the project rather than out of history or out of a personal vocabulary. That house can’t be anywhere else. That’s the sort of house I want.

http://www.contemporaryartdaily.com

# December 2, 2008 at 16:29

Benjamin says:

I agree. not only the site makes this house brilliant but its the way they have utilised it so well. amazing use of this space.. i guess with such a large population on such a small land mass the japenese architects become used to making something out of what seems like nothing.

# December 2, 2008 at 18:34

Thiefsie says:

If only design policy in Australia (or at least Melbourne) would allow me to buy a plot of land like this and design it so.

# December 3, 2008 at 01:22

francois says:

That’s an awfully thin house!

# December 3, 2008 at 02:05

sgurin says:

Прикольно. :-)

# December 3, 2008 at 02:46

Frix says:

I don’t agree with Benjamin and Contemporary art;
“Personal vocabulary” argument doesnt feet at all in this case, elevations and interior design are so particular that u cant say architects didnt make their vocabulary a priority… I rather see this house as an object than as an situed architecture
Anyway, there s a lack of documents to judge the spacial quality of this project, but it doesnt seem to me seeing what i m seeing that interior space take a real advantage of the site (well, hard to judge with a single kitchen view)
With all reserve called by lack of documents , just another fashion project…
Better look at these ones for insertion …
http://www.archdaily.com/7982/brunner-house-luca-selva-architects/
http://www.archdaily.com/6657/house-in-romeirao-arx/

# December 3, 2008 at 08:35

Hamster says:

Jajja nice aproach to the problem. But I agree we need more info..more plans instead of repeated images ;)

C´mon Nico Saieh check your posts!

# December 3, 2008 at 10:38

Bo says:

Японцы реально жгут
жаль планов нет!

# December 4, 2008 at 10:50

ro says:

frix, i’m not to show what you are trying to say. as for the spacial layout you should look at it from a artistic perspective.

# December 4, 2008 at 21:50

Alex (CorbusieLer) says:

Это же надо на таком участке дом построить-такое возможно только в Японии :)

# December 4, 2008 at 22:58

Sinking Cities says:

Endo does some great work. I love the slenderness/delicacy of this project. It deviates a bit from the formal language used in his older projects – still stunning none the less.

# December 6, 2008 at 18:13

Juri says:

I would love to see more interior of this building. It seems as if this house and it’s presentation tries to hide something… Maybe it is just another architectural “magazine sculpture” but if so – It’s a damn good looking piece of art!

# December 8, 2008 at 10:00

IFand says: